Preview: Austin Shakespeare's CELEBRATE!

Austin is beyond fortunate to have a strong contingent of thespians dedicated to the Bard. Over the course of any given year we have a chance to catch Shakespeare interpretations that range from true-to-original form to intriguingly experimental.

Austin Shakespeare is the group of Will-o-philes that turned out a modern-times MacBeth last September at the Long Center. Now, really going out on a limb, they’re spending the next several days totally busting free of their muse to offer up a little non-holiday cheer for those of us—and there are plenty—who don’t give a rat’s ass about shiny-nosed, misfit distant relatives of Bambi.

Which is to say that, under the guidance of Artistic Director Ann Ciccolella, Austin Shakespeare is presenting a musical revue that has nothing to do with midsummer night dreams or long winter naps. Instead, the group will raise their voices high and offer up tunes from favorite musicals including Peter Pan, Kiss Me Kate, She Loves Me, and The Light in the Piazza.

"We want to cheer in the holidays with a performance that is delightfully different from the normal festive fare,” says Ciccolella, who came up with this scheme to help us escape from silent nights. Performers include Jill Blackwood, Jamie Goodwin, Molly Wissinger, Greg Holt, Laura Powell and Rocker Versatique.